- Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Though Nepal and China signed the BRI agreement in 2017, not a single project has been implemented under the framework
By: Shajil Kumar
NEPAL and China on Wednesday signed a much-awaited framework agreement on the multi-billion dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), paving the way for enhanced economic cooperation on the projects.
The BRI Cooperation Framework agreement was inked during prime minister K P Sharma Oli’s official visit to China – his first official visit after assuming office for the fourth time.
“Today, we signed the Framework for Belt & Roads Cooperation. As my official visit to China concludes, I am honoured to reflect on the bilateral talks with Premier Li Qiang, discussions with NPC Chairman Zhang Leji, and the highly fruitful meeting with President Xi Jinping,” Prime Minister Oli posted on X.
The economic cooperation between Nepal and China will be further strengthened under the Belt and Road Framework Cooperation, he added.
The BRI framework agreement was inked by Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai and Liu Sushe of the National Development and Reform Commission of China, according to the Prime Minister’s secretariat.
The agreement is expected to pave the way for the implementation of BRI projects, sources said.
The BRI is a mega connectivity project that connects China with Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Russia and Europe.
Though Nepal and China signed the BRI agreement in 2017, not a single project has been implemented under the framework.
However, the details of the BRI cooperation framework agreement have not been made public.
A joint statement issued by both sides on Tuesday said that “the two sides expressed their readiness to sign the MoU on building the Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network (THMDCN) and the framework for Belt and Road Cooperation between the two governments as soon as possible,” without specifying a distinct deadline.
“Both sides expressed their commitment to strengthening connectivity between the two countries in such areas as ports, roads, railways, aviation, power grids and telecommunication, to help Nepal transform from a land-locked country to a land-linked country,” it said.
Speaking at a programme held at Peking University, Oli later said that Nepal would reap benefits from the Belt and Road Initiative.
He expressed the belief that China has strongly supported Nepal’s development and that the BRI project initiated under the visionary leadership of President Xi Jinping would further deepen bilateral relations between the two countries, the Himalayan Times newspaper reported.
Prime Minister Oli also called Chinese investors to invest in Nepal. (PTI)
